Wind actuated musical instrument



y 15, 1962 P. SEILLER ETAL 3,034,392

WIND ACTUATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. 20, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1May 1952 P. SEILLER ETAL 3,034,392

. WIND ACTUATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. 20, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2o H .5 L 26 El 27- g #1] Q 0%27 1 a E May 15, 1962 P. SEILLER ETAL3,034,392

WIND ACTUATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. 20, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 y15, 1962 P. SEILLER ETAL 3,034,392

WIND ACTUATED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Feb. 20, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4ilnited rates hater it he 3,634,392 WIND ACTUATED MUSHCAL HQSTRUMENTPhilippe Seiller, 12 Rue Lamblardie, and Andre Borei, 12 Rue .luiliet,both of Paris, France Filed Feb. 2d, 1953, Ser. No. H6343 Claimspriority, application France Feb. 27, W57

it Claims. (til. 34-651!) This invention relates to musical instruments,and one of its objects is to provide a novel keyboard-controlled windinstrument.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention we provide amusical instrument comprising a keyboard, e.g. of the conventional typeused in pianos, control valve means operatively connected for operationby the keys of the keyboard, air flow cavities or passages respectivelycontrolled by said valve means and vibrating elements, e.g. reeds,mounted in said cavities to be vibrated by air flowing therethrough, andan air distributor-and-collector conduit connected with said cavitiesfor distributing the airflow through the latter in response to theoperation of said keys.

Other objects of the invention are to provide improved constructionalforms of a keyboard-controlled musical instrument whereby assembly,repair and maintenance operations are made simpler and easier toperform, to impart increased flexibility, smoothness and silence to theoperation of the keys, andto eliminate any lateral play of said keysliable to entail inadvertent depression of keys adjacent to the keys tobe depressed. A specific object of this invention therefore is toprovide an improved mounting arrangement for the keys of a musicalinstrument keyboard whereby such keys will be made completelyindependent from one another and individually adjustable and removable,in contrast to conventional arrangements as generally used inpresent-day pianos, accordions and the like, wherein a set of keys areall operated by way of a common shaft simultaneously engaging all thekeys of the set or of the entire keyboard.

it will be understood that several of the objects of the invention areapplicable to any keyboard controlled musical instrument includingpianos, accordions, harmoniums and the like.

In accomplishing these objects the invention provides a key mountingarrangement wherein each individual key has a projecting portionengageable in pivoting relation with a groove formed in the base of theinstrument, or vice versa, and spring means for restoring the keytowards its normal position are arranged adjacent to said projection onthe side thereof remote from the side of the key which is operativelyconnected to the tone-control means such as a valve rod. p

The base of the instrument of our invention may be formed with a commonshallow groove for both the white and the black keys, all of which areformed with aligned projections engageable with said groove, and thespring restoring means may then comprise a threaded rod extendingsimultaneously through the rear portion of the key and the base in arecess having a diameter large enough to receive a coil spring thereincoaxially surrounding the screw rod.

According to an improvement provided in fulfillment of a funthcr objectof our invention, more especially relat ing to portablekeyboard-controlled instruments, a proassasaz Patented May 15, 1962trat-ion but not of limitation, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

PEG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a novel instrument,

FIG. 2 is a vertical section by a plane normal to the longitudinaldimension of the instrument, substantially through the midplane of awhite key,

FIG. 3'is a similar section on a vertical plane extending substantiallybetween a pair of adjacent white keys,

FIG. 4 is a larger scale View in transverse section illustrating thedistribution of airflow to the vibratory reeds by the airflow collectorand distributor conduit,

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view from below, with the cover plate raised,

FIG. 6 is a plan view of an improved instrument with the resonant cavitypartly broken away,

FIGS. 7 and 8 are transverse sections respectively on lines 7-7 and 88of FIG. 6, respectively for a white and a black key,

HS. 9 illustrates a modified form of the invention as applied to anaccordion, and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a detail of the instrument shown inFIGS. 6 to 8.

Referring to FIG. 1, a baseplate 1 forms the main frame of theinstrument and has secured to it all of the components thereof. Endsupports 2. and 3 secured upon the smaller sides of the elongatedrectangular base I serve to journal a metal rod 5 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) bymeans of journals 4, said rod providing a pivotal axis for both thenatural or white keys 6 and the chromatic or black keys 7. Spaced atintervals along the length of one side of the baseplate l are journalsupports 8 providing bearings for the rod 5 intermediate the endsupports 2 and 3.

The keys 6 are provided in the form of relatively thin plates extendingacross substantially the full width of base 1. At the end of each keythere is a down-bent vertical flange 6a adapted to have its lower enddisplaceable, on depression of the key, in a slot such as 9, the slots 9being formed adjacent to and in alignment with one another along thefront side of plate 1 opposite from the side receiving the rod 5thereon.

An elongated strip 10 forms the common outer wall of all said slots, andthe slots are separated off from one another by partitions such as 11which serve as lateral guides for the flanges 611 on verticaldisplacement of said flanges when the keys are depressed. Slots 12similar to slots are provided along the other longitudinal side of thebaseplate 1 between the edge of the plate and a continuous strip 13similar to strip 16 As will appear later the slots and 12 simultaneouslyserve for the escape and the intake of air.

in a conventional manner the keys 6 are appropriately cut out to receivethe keys 7 in interfitting relation between them. A flanged cover plate14 is secured to the end supports 2 and 3 over the rear parts of thekeys to conceal their pivotal means.

Spring means are provided for biasing the keys to their normal raisedposition and comprise hairsprings l5 having two arms one of which isreceived in pr'e-stressed condition within a groove 16 formed in thebase while the other arm is supported and guided in a groove 17 formedin the under face of the key. Similar spring restoring means are usedboth for the keys 6 and 7. Each key has its under side connected atsubstantially the midpoint of the transverse width dimension of thebaseplate, to the top of a related rod 18 which extends verticallythrough apertures 19 formed through the baseplate 1. Each rod 18 at itslower end receives a removable end piece 2i) including a flexible ringseal 21 forming a valve member as presently described. On depression ofa key a felt disc 22 secured to the under face of each key at the pointengaging the top of the related rod 18, engages a corresponding dampingdisc 23 provided on the upper surface of basepiate ll. Simultaneouslydamping blocks 24 serve to limit the possible deflection of the keys 6at their free ends as might tend to occur on excessively strongdepression of the keys which would not be limited by the mutualengagement of the discs 22 and 23. It will be seen that as a result ofthe arrangement just described depression of the keys can in no caseresult in a noisy contact between hard solid surfaces.

For-med in the lower part of the base l in a parallel spaced array are aset of transverse air-flow cavities or passages 25 each cavitycorresponding in position with a particular one of the rods 13. Thusthere areas many cavities 25 as there are keys 6 and 7. Secured withscrews 26 across each cavity 25 are strips 27 formed with slots '23.Mounted for vibration in the slots 23 are reeds 29 which desirably maybe alternately secured to the outer face of the strip 27 as shown at theleft of FIG. 4 and to the inner. faces of the strips as shown at theright of FIG. 4. Preferably there is associated with each cavity 25 onereed adapted to be operated by outflowing air and another reed adaptedto be operated by iniiowing air.

in order to ensure proper air-tightness, at the engagement of strips 27with the under face of baseplate l, a strip 39 of suitable yieldingmaterial, such as felt, leather, rubberized fabric or the like, isinterposed under the baseplate and bonded thereto as by means of glue,said strip being formed with rectangular apertures in it accuratelyregistering with the cutouts in the cavities 235 in base ll. Moreoverthe yielding rings 23 surround the rods lld in a sufiicientiy tightmanner to prevent substantial leakage of air along said rods.

in the intermediate space between the opposite side edges of the strips27, "a rectangular tube 31 is fitted, having one end closed by aremovable drain plug not shown and its other end sealed by a removablemouthpiece 32 shown in FIG. 1. Desirably the drain plug and themouthpiece 32 are adapted to be mountable indiscriminately on either endof the rectangular tube 31. This tube serves as an airflow distributorand collector pipe. It is secured atspaced points to the under side ofplate 1 with screws 33 (see FIG. 3) engaging th eaded bosses 33a formedin the upper side of the tube Ell. The screws 33 extend through the basel by way of spaced holes formed in said base between adjacent cavities25. When the screws 33 are screwed tight the pipe 31 is sealinglyapplied against the felt lining strip 30. Within the pipe Eli is a strip34 extending throughout the length of the pipe and providing additionaldamping abutment means on depression of the keys as the threaded endmember is retracted a maximum amount. The upper side of tube 31 isformed with holes 35 equal in number to the total number of rods 118relating to all the keys 6 and '7. The parts are so assembled that eachrod 118 relating to a cavity extends through a .hole in the pipe 331.The holes 35 are smaller in diameter than the diameter of the sealingrings 21. In their idle condition when the keys are held raised by thesprings 15 the seal rings 21 are sealingly applied against the innerupper surface of pipe 31.

A bottom cover 36 is secured by screws 3'7 to the under wall of pipe 31'as shown in FIG. 3.

The instrument thus described operates as follows.

When the player blows into the mouthpiece 32, air flows into the pipe 31and is delivered to only that or those of the cavities 25 madeaccessible as a result of depression of the key or keys secured to therod or rods 18 relating to the cavities. Due to the sealed relationshipof the parts the air is forced through such cavities past the vibratingreeds therein and the reeds are vibrated thereby to emit predeterminedtones. The sound is emitted through the apertures 9 and 312. It will benoted that the bottom plate 36 acts as a resonant cavity. Where thereeds are mounted in mutually opposed pairs at the outlet of a commoncavity, only one reed of the pair is operated during the air-dischargestage. When the player draws in air through mouthpiece 32 the reverseeffects obtain and the opposite reed of the pair is set into vibration.

it will be noted that when the player is using a mouth piece 32positioned at the righthand side of the instrument as shown in FIG. 1,the keys of the keyboard can be played with the fingers of the left handup the scale in the rightward direction. On the other hand when using amouthpiece positioned on the left side of the instrument the right handwill move up the scale in the rightward direction. Thus any moderatelyskilled piano player will quickly learn to play the novel instrument.

Gripping means, such as a strappnot shown, may be secured to the underside of bottom cover plate, 36, and may serve to carry the instrumentwith that hand not engaging in operating the keyboard.

in the form of embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, theinstrument is arranged for operation of the reeds only when mouthpressure is applied. It comprises a base it which may be wood, and isformed in its under face with adjacent cavities such as 37 and 38providing individual air intake chambers with reeds 39 and 4t ar rangedtherein. The air from the mouthpiece 42; is conveyed to said chambers byway of a pipe 41 secured below the base and having one end connectedwith said mouthpiece. Formed in the pipe i1 is a longitudinal partition43 which divides it in such a way that the air must first howinto'chamber 41a. and then into chamber 4112 through a set of portswhich may desirably be provided at the end of the pipe ill'remote fromthe-mouthpiece 4-2 (see FIG. 10). A cover, plate 62 surrounding thereeds and pivots in spaced relation thereto selves to define a resonantcavity.

Each chamber 37 or 38 is normally sealed off from,

chamber 42th but may be individually connected with the chamber ondepression of the corresponding key as or 45. The key, through a rod '26or 4-7, lifts the valve 48 or &9 off its seat. Each such rod is securedto, e.g., moulded in, the related key and its free end is threaded toreceive thereon the valve head td or 4-9 beyond an oblong aperture 5a or51 formed through a sealing member secured in the base.

The under side of the key and the upper side of the base, at pointsaligned with the ends of the rods 46 and 57,

are provided with damping discs of felt or the like such as 52 and 5?,to prevent noise or depression of the keys. Moreover the discs 53provide an adequate sealing against air leakage on depression of thevalve. shank and prevent leakage of air through aperture St; or fill.

According to a feature of the invention each key is formed at its rearend with a transverse projection 54% or 55 equal in length to the widthof the key. All such projections simultaneously rest in alignedcondition in a common groove $6 formed in the top of the base. Thecontact surfaces of the projections. in 'the grooves are rounded so asto, provide pivotal *fulcrums for the keys on the base withoutany'lateral displacement of the keys on depression thereof since theswivel or pivot means thus provided are linear rather than spherical incharacter.

The valve shanks and the spring biasing-means for each key furtherassist inmaintaining the keys in substantially parallel relation withrespect to one another on depression thereof.

' The spring restoring means for the keys comprises, for each key, athreaded rod 57 having a spherical head imprisoned in a socket 58 formedin the rear part of the upper face of the key, while the threadedportion of the rod projects into a recess 59 formed in the rear andlower side of the base. Surrounding the end of the threaded rod withinthe recess 59 is a coil spring 6th the compressional bias of which isadapted to be adjusted separately for each key by means of a nut 61. j a

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that each key of ournovel instrument is adapted to be mounted and adjusted individually, andthis is a great advantage over the conventional arrangement in keyboardinstruments. It will be evident that the features of the inventionrelating to the keyboard will be applicable to any keyboard instrumentrather than only to the wind instrument specifically described herein byway of example.

Shown at '62 is a cover plate secured to the base with screws 63 andproviding a resonant cavity. End plates 64 and 65 are secured to theends of the base to define end walls for said cavity.

In a somewhat modified form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 9 akeyboard system in accordance with the invention is shown as applied tothe baseplate of an accordion. Some of the parts shown in FIGS. 7 and 8described above have been designated in FIG. 9 with the same referencenumerals and the general arrangement thereof will be seen to be thesame.

What we claim is:

l. A musical instrument comprising in combination an elongated base, akeyboard comprising keys, means pivoting all said keys adjacent theirinner ends in aligned relation along the upper side of said base, theunder side of said base being provided with a plurality of recesses eachin opposite alignment with a respective key, closure means to close allsaid recesses whereby to provide air cavities corresponding to therespective keys, said closure means having plurality of aperturestherein to provide a vent for each of said cavities communicating withthe atmosphere, a vibratory element positioned in each said aperture, acommon air conduit extending under said base longitudinally thereof, theupper side of said conduit being mounted in contiguous relation with theunder side of said closure means, the upper side of the conduit having aplurality of passages in communication with passages provided in saidclosure means for connecting all said cavities with said conduit, saidbase having a plurality of bores communicating between each of thecavities and the upper surface of the base in alignment with each ofsaid passages, valve means including valve shanks, means to position avalve means in each passage to project said shanks upwardly intoengagement with said keys through said bores whereby depression of a keywill open the related passage, sealing means in each bore for the valveshanks to prevent leakage of air, means associated with each key toretain the key in a normal raised condition to maintain the relatedpassage closed, and a mouthpiece secured to an outer end of saidconduit, whereby manipulation of said keys with simultaneousintroduction of air into said mouthpiece will selectively set saidelements into vibration.

2. The instrument claimed in claim 1, wherein each key comprises adownwardly directed end flange at the end thereof remote from saidpivoting means, and slots in said base longitudinally spaced along aforward end of the base for slidably receiving said flanges to guide thekeys against transverse displacement on depression thereof.

3. In the instrument claimed in claim 1, a cover plate supported fromsaid base in spaced relation with the under side thereof and defining aresonant cavity for said vibratory elements.

4. The instrument claimed in claim 1, wherein said valve means eachcomprise a vertical valve shank slidably extending through a bore insaid base, means connecting the upper end of the shank to the under faceof the related key, the lower end of said shank projecting through saidpassage into said conduit, and a radially extending valve member carriedby said lower end of the shank within said conduit and cooperating withsaid opening.

5. In the instrument claimed in claim 4, an apertured element ofyielding sealing material secured to the upper face of said base aroundeach valve shank in slidable sealing relation therewith, and acooperating element of yielding material secured to the under face ofsaid key around said upper end of the shank for abutting cooperationwith said first apertured element on depression of the key.

6. In the instrument claimed in claim 4, yielding means within saidconduit on the bottom wall thereof for abutting and damping cooperationwith said valve member on violent depression of the related key.

7. In the instrument claimed in claim 4, threefold abutment-silencingmeans for each key comprising, a yielding damper element on the upperside of said base for cooperation with the under face of said keyadjacent the end thereof remote from said pivotal means, a yieldingdamper element on the upper side of said base for cooperation wit theunder face of said key adjacent the top end of said valve shank, and ayielding damper element on the upper side of the bottom wall of saidconduit for cooperation with the under face of said valve member.

8. A musical instrument comprising in combination an elongated base, akeyboard including natural and chromatic keys, means pivoting all saidkeys adjacent their one ends in alignment along the upper side of thebase, said base being provided with transverse recesses formed in theunder side thereof in alignment with the respective keys, plates securedto the under side of the base to close said recesses and providecavities corresponding to the respective keys, each of the plates beingprovided with a pair of apertures spaced transversely of the base toprovide two vents for each cavity communicating with the atmosphere, avibratory element for each of the respective apertures of each plate,said vibratory elements being respectively arranged for vibration inresponse to air flowing upwards through one aperture and downwardsthrough the other aperture of each plate, a common air conduit extendingunder said base longitudinally thereof, said conduit having a flat upperside positioned contiguous to the under sides of all said closure platesbetween the related apertures therein, said flat upper side of theconduit and each plate being provided with mating openings forconnecting the respective cavities to said conduit intermediate the twovibratory elements of each pair, valve means in said openingsincluding-valve shanks, means to mount said valve shanks to projectupwards through a series of bores provided in said base into operativeengagement by said keys, whereby depression of a key will open arespective opening in said conduit, spring means retaining the keys in anormal raised condition to close the respective openings, sealing meansin each opening for the valve shanks to prevent leakage of air, and amouthpiece secured to an outer end of said conduit.

9. In the instrument claimed in claim 8, a sealing member of flexiblematerial interposed between the under face of said base and the upperfaces of all said plates and cutouts formed in said element to registerwith said recesses in the base.

10. In the instrument claimed in claim 8, a cover plate supported fromsaid base in spaced relation with the under side thereof and secured tothe under side of said conduit to define a resonant cavity for saidvibratory elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS683,320 McCrea Sept. 24, 1901 963,827 Swan July 12, 1910 1,995,751Sampietro Mar. 26, 1935 2,167,582 McCord July 25, 1939 2,197,773Rosenfield Apr. 23, 1948 2,478,474 Folder Aug. 9, 1949 2,764,907 LinkOct. 2, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 456,290 Italy Mar. 29, 1950

